Answering Asks: Gathering Graveyard Dirt, Starting Deity Worship, and More

On the first week of every month, I ask my subscribers if they have any questions for me. These questions can be about witchcraft, Paganism, or anything else. This week, my subscribers sent me some brilliant questions about haunted objects, deity work, and graveyard dirt. If you're interested to learn, read on!

Have any advice on working with Haunted Objects? Some spirits attach themselves to dolls, furniture, family heirlooms, etc. Not all of them negative entities either.
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- Mystic Selena

Hi Selena,

Haunted objects are a complex topic because attitudes towards them vary basic on culture, location, and folklore.

To start, it is possible to bind certain spirits to objects. Binding is when you force a spirit into a certain location where they cannot escape. Traditional witchcraft features many spells binding spirits to crystals, rings, boxes, and more.

However, haunted objects are not necessarily the result of binding. A spirit might simply be attached to that object; it might hold special memory for them, or they might like to tag along with it. Ignore stories from movies like The Conjuring that say spirits haunt objects to possess humans. If a spirit really wanted to possess you, they wouldn’t need an object to do it. 

If a haunted object is bothering you, place some soothing or protective items near it. When I set out jars of graveyard dirt, I’ll keep rose petals, lavender, or selenite near them, which calms the spirits enough to not talk to me every time I walk by. Protective symbols like the evil eye or sator square can be placed next to a haunted object to prevent it from moving.

If this doesn’t work, then the spirit might not be attached to that object. It’s just hanging around. On the bright side, the object is still a direct link to that spirit. Connect to the object’s energies, provide an offering, and perform divination. You’ll likely receive some information from that spirit.

Hope this helps!

Here's an example: I am calming this graveyard dirt with lavender and selenite.

What are some tips you would give to a person who just started working with a deity?
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• - Toby

Hi Toby,

If you’ve just started deity work, I recommend focusing on research. Write down your deity’s symbols, myths, epithets, and representations. Learn how the ancients worship Them, and talk to modern worshippers. As you begin to give offerings and pray, this information will become increasingly helpful. ​

When I started working with Thoth recently, I took notes on Him in my prayer journal, gave an offering of incense, and prayed to Him at my altar.

Also, the more you practice, the less nervous you’ll feel. Even after 13 years in this community, I still get anxious when I add a new deity to my worship. As you work with Them, you’ll learn how They communicate, what They like, and what They don’t like. Gods are forgiving; I have never heard of a deity throwing someone to the curb for getting an offering wrong. 

Since the Gods are patient and forgiving with you, you should also act that way toward yourself. Give yourself time to learn. If a deity doesn’t respond right away, don’t fret. Relationships take time. The more you work, the more comfortable you’ll feel.

I've always felt drawn to bones, death and Hades and I've been starting to feel drawn to spring and rebirth since a few months. Here's the problem: as much as I am a spiritual person, I'm not religious. I don't believe in any kind of Gods or Goddesses, but I am drawn to their symbolism that is very important to me. Can you be an atheist wiccan or an atheist pagan? Thank you in advance.
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• - Sam

Hi Sam,

Pagan religious, including Wicca, are theist by default. They require a belief in deities.

However, you can work with deities without worshipping Them. Plenty of people work with deities as partners, but they do not honor or pray to Them as a worshipper would do. However, this also requires a belief in Gods.

Goddess statue on my Wiccan altar.

Perhaps you can work with archetypes. I know people who work with Death as a figure to guide their death witchcraft. I also know people who use Pagan symbols--including runes, the pentagram, and the eye of Ra--without being religious. Certain belief systems, such as animism, focus on spirits instead of Gods.

Whether these terms fit you or not, remember that you do not need a label for your Craft. You can work with what you want, believe in what you want, and not have a term for it. Perhaps the term you’re looking for will come with time.

I know that, when you take dirt from a graveyard, you're supposed to ask the dead. How would I go about asking them? Should I leave an offering too? If so, what are good offerings? And finally, should I ask the living (the workers) before I take it?

• - Anonymous
  

Hi Anonymous,

These are very good questions.

I recommend familiarizing yourself with a cemetery first. Do you feel drawn to any particular spot? If so, start there.

Give offerings when and where you can. Sometimes, a spirit will attempt to speak with you when you provide an offering. Other times, you will need to sit by a grave for a while. I wrote more about this here: How to Commune with Spirits While in a Graveyard.

I was going to link an “offerings to the dead” post, but then I realized: I don’t have one! I will need to add that to my blog post schedule. For now, here is a brief list of offerings:

• Flowers
• Soothing herbs like lavender, rose, rosemary, and juniper berries
• Coins
• Rocks (mainly for Jewish graves)
• Crystals
• Tiny candles, like birthday candles
• Bread, which you can break into crumbs
• Water, beer, or wine

When you want to ask for graveyard dirt, simply ask, “May I use some dirt from your grave for ___?” It can be spirit work, healing the dead, protection, etc. If they say yes, you’ll know--you’ll feel the approval. If you sense something wrong, don’t collect it. And if you cannot tell what you feel, wait. You might need to come back or talk to the spirit more.

You do not need to ask the cemetery workers beforehand. Usually, people only take about a handful or two of dirt, which does not upset the graveyard. Do not bring a shovel, and do not take any grave items with you. Only grab what you need, and put it in a plastic bag. When you get home, find a sealed container like a glass jar or mason jar.

For more information, you might want to check out what I keep in my death witch travel altar.

A raised grave with offerings on top.

In my travel altar (which I bring to cemeteries), I keep juniper berries, coins, and a birthday candle.

Do You Have Questions?

Do you have any more questions? Did I not explain something well, or would you like more information? If so, comment below. And if you would like to participate in the next Answering Asks, subscribe!